Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-01
FOOLISH ANTERANDALLISMS.

at its present session, and that compro-
mise would be arrived at, satisfactory in
general to the country, though neither
following the policy OF Mr.. Mills, nor of
Mr.. Randall. The terrific vaporings OF
free traders on the one side and the stolid
stubbornness of high tariff advocates on
the other, exemplify the two extreme
views of the question. There are all
shades Of opinions on the subject of tariff
reform, guided and colored by sectional
interests, snd the only solution possible,
and the only disposition Of the question
that can be reasonably expected
is a liberal compromise, where each
side will make concessions and where
conflicting interests must be harmon
lied. All Democrats and all Republicans
for that matter, agree that more money
ia being collected from the people than is
necessary to administer the government
economically, and that the large and
ever increasing surplus accommodating in
the national treasury, by gradually lessen
ing the volume in circulation, threatens
disaster to the business interests OF the
country. Both Democrats and Republic
cans disagree among themselves as to the
best means of accomplishing this pur-
pose. Many good Democrats advocate
the reduction and some the abolition Of
the internal revenue tax, while others,
who believe that the internal revenue tax
is wrong and unnecessary, desire to re-
tain it as hostage to insure the speedier
reduction Of the tariff. Between these
conflicting interests stands the President
and the great maj ority OF the Democratic
party. A reasonable, seasonable, prudent
and conservative policy will be adopted
and carried out. Democrats who believe
in high protective tariff under
the delusion that it benefits the
country or the laboring element,
have no desire to ostracize Mr..
| Mills because he advocates free trade, and
Democrats who believe as Mr.. Mills does
Will be too sensible to insist on the sscri
fee OF Mr.. Randall because that gentle
man is an ardent tariff advocate.
Democracy IS too cosmopolitan, too
universal for that. People must be
allowed to exercise their own opinions
and they must be expected to protect
their own local or sectional interests
whether they are Democrats or not.
Freedom of thought, Of speech and of
party feslty because Democracy requires
no such sacrifice of its members.
America is a big country and must be
governed by universal laws and not on
local, class or sectional ideas, and these
laws can be enacted only by compromise
and concession. There have been extrem-
lists al all times and upon sill subjects, but
these extremists are aptipodal. Mr.
Mills, representing an agricultural con-
stituency, desires the abolition or reduc-
ton of the tariff, and he has right
to his opinions, and it is his duty
to endeayor to have these opIn-
ions crystslized into law; Mr..
Randall, representing constituency who
believe in protective tariff, has right
to bis opinions, and must be expected to
oppose what he consclentiously believes
to be assaults upon the interests of his
people. Both are Democrats, and the
Democracy requires and cannot spare
the services of either. While we may
venerate the wisdom of Democratic
sages who have declared against pro-
tective tariff, other good Democrats be-
lleve that Democracy does not mean al
unquestioning faith in the axioms or
maXims Of the past, but that it is polit-
ical faith which looks to the interests of
the present and for the present. It is
an organization which brings TO,
gether IN one fold the whole people,
each free TO fully and fairly pre-
sent his claims. It requires that
mutual concessions be made in order that
from the incong uous conflict may be
brought forth harmonious result. The
senseless twaddle about reading Sam
Randall cut of the Democratic party is
the veriest bosh. If the Democrats were
entirely void of gratitude for this grand
man snd forgetful of his past services
when his hand stayed an assault upon
their constitutional rights more terrible
than the civil war itself, they still could
not afford to ignore the rights of other
Democrats who think differently from
themselves. And, if the Democrats were
practically and literally q unit for free
trade and the Republicans a unit for a
protective tariff, they could not afford to
ride rough shod over the wishes of the
minority. Democratic legislation to be
effectiYe must be IN the interest of
Republicans IS well as Demo-
Gratis. Superior numbers are elements
OF brute force when used to
crush opposition and ignore the wants
and wishes of others, and, in free coun-
try, no party can remain dominant that is
guilty Of tyranny. 1t is an insult to our